EU: New rules for animal feed labelling

The European Commission recently proposed simpler
rules for the marketing of animal feed and pet food.

This proposal simplifies the existing procedures for labelling and marketing
animal feed and pet food, while making the overall system more efficient while
maintaining the same level of protection of animal health, animal welfare and
public health, the commission stated.

The new rules will also be aimed at improving the competitiveness of the EU
livestock sector, which contributes to almost half of all EU agricultural
output. Together the feed and pet food industry represents a turnover of approx.
€50b in the EU.

Reduce "red tape" for feed operatorsThe proposal aims to
greatly reduce "red tape" for feed operators by removing unnecessary
administrative burdens and technical requirements, which are no longer necessary
since an integrated food safety approach has now been implemented from farm to
fork.

Pre-market authorisations are to be made proportionate to risks and no longer
based on predefined feed groups, such as products acting as proteins
sources.

General provisionsThe draft Regulation sets out certain
general provisions for the labelling of all feed, such as the need to indicate
the type of feed, the name and address of the operator, the list of feed
additives and the net weight.